"Scugog"s Community Newspaper of Choice" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 17 Archrivals defeat MoJacks Port Perry stumbles in 5-3 loss to Little Britain By John B. McClelland Port Perry Star You never know what you might get when the Little Britain Merchants come to town for a Junior C hockey game. The Port Perry MoJacks found that out Sunday night when the enigmatic Merchants slapped them for a 5-3 loss right on home ice at the Scugog Arena. Granted, the Merchants don't exactly like the MoJacks and they should never be taken for granted. But consider that on Friday night, the Uxbridge Bruins slammed Little Britain 13-1 and last week Bobcaygeon shut them out 5-0. The MoJacks should never consider the two points just mailed in, but one might think the Merchants could be in a down mood when they arrived in town Sunday evening. If they were, it didn't show as they quickly jumped into a 2-0 lead early in the second on goals by Dave Duncan and jon Perrin. In fact, it was the MoJacks who looked like they had just come out of two severe losses as they appeared far off their usual game built around speed and sharp passing. However, the MoJacks were anything but dead and midway through the second frame Darryl Steele got them on the board from Andrew Mercer and Brent Stokes. Steele, in his rookie Junior C season, arrived from the Clarington AAA Midgets with a reputation for scoring goals. He lived up to it when he unloaded a slap- shot from just inside the blueline. Steele's goal seemed to inject some life into the MoJacks and two quick goals vaulted them into a short-lived 3-2 lead. Andrew Mercer from Steele and Curran tied things at 12: 38 and a couple of min- utes later Justin Bennett tallied while his team was shorthanded when he collected the puck near the Merchant line and broke in on a partial breakaway. But in the final minute, the Merchant powerplay went to work as Jeremy Farr cashed in a setup from Gibbs and Gourlie to send the teams into the dressing rooms tied 3-3 after 40 minutes. And it was the Merchant power play that got what proved to be the winner early in the third with Gourlie doing the damage on a pass from J. R. Purdie. An empty netter by the Merchants with just a dozen ticks on the clock sealed the Mojack's fate in this one despite some sustained pressure and power plays of their own towards the end of regulation. MoJack General Manager Murray Parliament said after the game that this may have been the MoJack's weakest out- ing to date this season. "We had a full lineup but it was one of those games where nothing seemed to go right," he told The Port Perry Star. "When we were clicking on the passes we were able to get some good shots on net, but seemed to lack the drive to go to the net for the rebounds," he said. The MoJacks had gone seven days without a game and this high energy, high- skilled squad plays better with lots of work. SLAPSHOTS: Despite the loss, the MoJacks remain in second place in the Central Jr. C League thanks to some strong outings over the last dozen games or so. They have 29 points, nine behind first- place Uxbridge, but just one up on the Lakefield Chiefs. That single point makes this week's clash between the MoJacks and Chiefs all the more significant as the green and white travel to Lakefield tonight (Dec. 11) for an 8 p.m faceoff. Turn to Page 18 Port Perry Skating Club report by Jill Watson Skating Club has a successful journey to the Raccoon Rally It's been a busy month for our skaters. Not only has our club been well represented at competi- tion, there have been many tests passed as well. At the Nov. 24 Raccoon Rally Competition held in Bowmanville, Rachel Greer won a bronze medal and Caitlin Voisey got a silver Mark Foster brought home gold, as did Emily Parliament and Kayla Coxworth in their Senior Similar Pairs Division. Emily Coxworth and Britni Horton teok sil- ver in that same event, while Erin Hughson and Justine Stevenson cap- tured bronze in the Intermediate category. At the Cobourg Invitational Competition, Rachel Greer again won bronze in the Preliminary Open event, while Emily Coxworth and Aimee Foster were second and third respectively in their fights for the Junior Bronze Open division. A test day was con- ducted in Bowmanville on Nov. 28, with our skaters achieving great results. Turn to Page 18 RIK DAVIE / PORT PERRY STAR MOJACKS SCORE FOR THE KIDS:The Port Perry MoJacks are inviting Scugog residents to come out to the game Dec.16 with a food or toy dona- tion for the Toronto Police Toy Drive and Operation Scugog. Those making a donation get in half-price. Promoting the event are, from left, Ryan McQuade, goaltender Matt Balser and, of course, Santa Claus. Scugog Hockey League action Bruce Smith Carpentry hands Jester's Court a 5-3 defeat Bruce Smith Carpentry Jester's Court On Sunday, Dec. 8 the Sunday Morning Hockey League opened up with the high flying Bruce Smith Carpentry boys beat- ing Jester's Court by a score of 5-3. Doing the damage for Bruce Smith's was Duane Empringham with two goals and two assists, Karl Durham and John Butler with a goal and an assist and Todd Smart with the remaining goal. Darryl Workman added two assists with singles going to Dave Roth and Willy Edwards. Scoring for Jester's was Brian Till and Mike Ayres with a goal and an assist and John Harman adding the other goal Goaltender Dale Gibbons earned an assist as did Bill Foote, Rich McJanr et and Todd Healey. Square Boy Pizza Taylor Fuels The second game featured Square Boy Pizza narrowly defeating Taylor Fuels by a score of 3-2. | Scoring for Square Boy Pizza was Jeff Brooks with a pair and Carl Fitzgerald with the other. Adding assists were Brett Laycoe, Lee Steeves and Doug Bronson. Ryan Ridgway scored a goal and added an assist in a losing cause, as Bob Collins scored the other. George Gladish and Jim Beatty assisted on the goals as well. Compton Communications Pineridge Sports In the third game, Compton Communications beat up on Pineridge Turn to Page 18